*Check back in the spring for 2023 Summer Camp!*
GREAT BASIN NATURALISTS
Outdoor Learning Close to Home
Great Basin Naturalists at Galena Camps provide quality education experiences. We emphasize environmental science and physical activity, as well as foster creativity, promote STEAM education, and instill environmental stewardship. Our staff are trained, outdoor educators who are committed to providing safe and fun learning experiences for your camper!
Load up your backpack, lace up your sneakers, and let’s have a forest adventure!
Located in the beautiful Galena Creek Regional Park, nestled between Reno and Lake Tahoe, our day and residential camps open a portal to the wilder world. For ages 8-13, kids will discover the natural wonders of our local forests, creeks, lakes and ponds.
Bringing out the explorer in every child.
Great Basin Naturalists at Galena Exploration Camps are made possible through partnerships between Washoe County, the USDA Forest Service, and the Great Basin Institute .
Load up your backpack, lace up your sneakers, and let’s have a forest adventure!
Located in the beautiful Galena Creek Regional Park, nestled between Reno and Lake Tahoe, our day and residential camps open a portal to the wilder world. For ages 8-13, kids will discover the natural wonders of our local forests, creeks, lakes and ponds.
Bringing out the explorer in every child.
Great Basin Naturalists at Galena Exploration Camps are made possible through partnerships between Washoe County, the USDA Forest Service, and the Great Basin Institute .
SPRING & S U M M E R E X P L O R A T I O N C A M P S
at Galena Creek
Day/Resedential Camps
at Galena Creek Visitor Center
at Galena Creek Visitor Center
Day Camps: Based out of the Galena
Creek Visitor Center, day camp offers a full
day of outdoor activities including hiking,
interactive lessons, expert presentations
from professionals, games, crafts, and
more!
Residential Camps: Located in the
Galena Creek Regional Park, the WeChMe
Lodge offers your camper the experience
of true mountain living for a week. This
secluded retreat has a full kitchen and din-
ing area, showers, outdoor sports area,
amphitheater, BBQ area, and two floors of
rooms, accommodating eight campers per
room. We provide professionally cooked
food, weekly trips to the Lake Tahoe area,
and fun evening activities like campfires,
trivia, and more! Camp staff are trained to
supervise your kiddos 24/7.
Creek Visitor Center, day camp offers a full
day of outdoor activities including hiking,
interactive lessons, expert presentations
from professionals, games, crafts, and
more!
Residential Camps: Located in the
Galena Creek Regional Park, the WeChMe
Lodge offers your camper the experience
of true mountain living for a week. This
secluded retreat has a full kitchen and din-
ing area, showers, outdoor sports area,
amphitheater, BBQ area, and two floors of
rooms, accommodating eight campers per
room. We provide professionally cooked
food, weekly trips to the Lake Tahoe area,
and fun evening activities like campfires,
trivia, and more! Camp staff are trained to
supervise your kiddos 24/7.
SPRING 2023 CAMP SESSIONS TBA
SUMMER 2023 CAMP SESSIONS TBA
2021 GENERAL CAMP NOTES
- ALL CAMP SESSIONS WILL BE HELD AT THE GALENA CREEK VISITOR CENTER AND ON GALENA CREEK REGIONAL PARK TRAILS.
- THE COST PER WEEK OF CAMP IS $237. THANKS TO GENEROUS GRANT FUNDING FROM THE NELL J. REDFIELD FOUNDATION, FULL AND PARTIAL SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE.
- ALL PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED FOR LOCAL YOUTH, BETWEEN THE AGES OF 8 AND 13.

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Scholarships are Available for all Camp Programs!
We want all kids to be able to attend our camps programs as we believe money should not be a barrier for environmental education! If your camper is interested in attending a program, but the cost of camp is beyond what you can pay, please fill out a scholarship application and email it to visitorcenter@thegreatbasininstitute.org.
Funds for camp scholarships are generously provided by the Nell J. Redfield Foundation.
Funds for camp scholarships are generously provided by the Nell J. Redfield Foundation.
SUMMER CAMP SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION
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CAMP REGISTRATION
Great Basin Naturalists has partnered with CampDoc.com to better serve our campers and staff. CampDoc.com offers online registration and an electronic health record system for camps. You can now register your camper and complete their health information all in one place. Once you sign up for a CampDoc.com account, you will be able to register your camper and make payments online. Afterwards, you will receive more information on how to complete your camper’s health profile. We’re excited to let you know that your camper’s health information will save from year-to-year, so once you complete it in CampDoc.com this season, you won’t have to start from scratch next year.
COVID-19 CAMP POLICIES
Keeping your child, family, and community safe is our number one priority. In order to do so, we have created a safe way to host camps these years. Summer camp is an entirely outdoor program, but still carries the the potential of coming across a close contact/positive case. When this happens, masks will be worn by staff and campers during that time. (The closing of camp will be dependent on staff and parents will be notified in a timely manner).
To ensure everyone's safety, please follow these policies:
- If you or your child is experiencing any of the following symptoms (coughing, congestion/runny nose, fever, sore throat, vomiting/diarrhea) please refrain from coming to camp that day.
- If your child has been a close contact from a different case please notify staff (we recommend getting tested)
Keeping your child, family, and community safe is our number one priority. In order to do so, we have created a safe way to host camps these years. Summer camp is an entirely outdoor program, but still carries the the potential of coming across a close contact/positive case. When this happens, masks will be worn by staff and campers during that time. (The closing of camp will be dependent on staff and parents will be notified in a timely manner).
To ensure everyone's safety, please follow these policies:
- If you or your child is experiencing any of the following symptoms (coughing, congestion/runny nose, fever, sore throat, vomiting/diarrhea) please refrain from coming to camp that day.
- If your child has been a close contact from a different case please notify staff (we recommend getting tested)
Fall Camp 2017 |
Summer Camp 2018 |
Summer Camp 2017 |
Summer Camp 2016 |